Today, President Trump signed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. In a public statement, the FAA says that this establishes new conditions for the recreational use of drones. It also means that Section 336, the Special Rule for Model Aircraft is repealed effective immediately. Although the FAA admits that the Act ‘cannot be fully implemented immediately’ and therefor advices you to ‘follow all current policies and guidance’ when it comes to flying drones recreationally.

DJI Mavic Pro

Official statement from the FAA about the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018

Drone Pilots:

On October 5, 2018, the President signed the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The Act establishes new conditions for recreational use of drones and immediately repeals the Special Rule for Model Aircraft.

The agency is evaluating the impacts of this change in the law and how implementation will proceed. The Reauthorization Act cannot be fully implemented immediately, please continue to follow all current policies and guidance with respect to recreational use of drones:

Fly for hobby or recreation only

Register your model aircraft

Fly within visual line-of-sight

Follow community-based safety guidelines and fly within the programming of a nationwide community-based organization

Fly a drone under 55 lbs. unless certified by a community-based organization

Never fly near other aircraft

Never fly near emergency response efforts

Updated direction and guidance will be provided as the FAA implements this new legislation.

What do you think about theFAA Reauthorization Act of 2018? Let us know in the comments below.

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About the Author

Haye Kesteloo is the Editor in Chief and Main Writer at DroneDJ, where he covers all drone related news and writes product reviews. He also contributes to the other sites in the 9to5Mac group such as; 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, 9to5Toys and Electrek. Haye can be reached at haye@dronedj.com or @hayekesteloo